Occult Technologies in Practice
Marinos Sariyannis
Ottomans and the Supernatural December 4, 2025 DOI: 10.1093/9780198954804.003.0005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Examines the forms of occult science practiced in Ottoman society—magic, astrology, geomancy, dream interpretation, alphanumerical divination, and alchemy—focusing on their methods. It also asks who practiced them, whether scholars or commoners, and what the evidence shows about folk practices and the roles of gender, ethnicity, and religion. |
Abstract
Abstract Turning to the practical aspect of occultism, this chapter deals with the various forms of occult sciences as practised in Ottoman society. Views and information on the various sorts of magic, astrology, geomancy, dream interpretation, alphanumerical divination, and alchemy are examined, stressing the methods used. The chapter also seeks to find out whatever information is available on the practitioners of such arts in the context of social history, and to answer questions such as: were they scholars or commoners; what was the role of folk practices; and what do we know about the role of gender, ethnicity, and religion?